By Jon Harries
Another away day, another win this time at an out of sorts Charlton. The game started with some misplaced passes and mistakes from both sides. Charlton with a few dangerous balls into the box but with no striker to finish them off.
Up the other end Parrott was found with a great ball over the top but unfortunately his touch got away from him at the vital moment. The Dons though did open the scoring just before HT and what a pass it was by Conor Coventry, outside of the right foot played in Tennai Watson who finished smartly from the left. Our midfield duo now with two fantastic assists in two games and really stepping up after O’Riley had left for Scotland.
The second half was all Dons, almost total possession, keeping the ball, a very mature performance from such a young side. The lead was doubled when Wickham fed Parrott who couldn’t get the ball out of his feet at first but laid it back to Wickham to get off a fierce shot that was parried out to Kesler who was following in and fired into net to send the away end head over heels in celebration, keeping the pressure on Wigan who came from a goal behind verses Wycombe to win.
If we keep the pressure on, anything is possible. They have games in hand. We have points on the board. I know which situation I’d rather be in.
Stadium MK is the destination on Saturday for the self-proclaimed “best team in the League” Bolton Wanderers. Promoted last season they were a few pundits quoting them as dark horses for promotion given the momentum, they built up on the way to automatic promotion from L2.
Manager Ian Evatt comes across as a very self-confident, assured manager and that shows in his team when they’re playing well.
Much like last season, January has been the springboard for a possible play off charge after a bit of a mid-season slump after a respectable start to the season. James Trafford has been brought in to fill the void between the sticks and has settled in well. Ricardo Santos has impressed at CB and Marlon Fossey is a WB with pace and skill to burn. Kieran Sadlier and Kyle Dempsey are fantastic L1 midfield options with Josh Sheehan making a massive impact before injury at the start of the season, scoring in the reverse fixture a 3-3 thriller. Up top Dapo Afolayan has stepped up brilliantly from L2. Amadou Bakayoko has contributed with vital goals recently including their 3-1 win at Lincoln midweek. All in all, a squad that should not be underestimated with recent wins against Sunderland and Oxford being very impressive.
The Man in Focus is someone who has a habit of scoring against us on quite a regular basis. Dion Charles had not played for several months, a dispute with John Coleman or his contract I believe at his former club Accrington Stanley. The 26-year-old Northern Ireland International has 6 goals and 3 assists in 17 Games for Wanderers. An absolute nuisance for defenders, snapping at their heels and pouncing on any weaknesses. He’s a fox in the box but also able to stretch defences with his pace. He has been a factor in the Bolton upturn and from memory has scored in his last 2 appearances against us.
Predicted Line Up
Cumming
Kesler – O’Hora – Darling – Lewington – Watson
Kasumu – Coventry
Corbeanu – Twine – Eisa
Kasumu will give us the intensity and control against this talented midfield of Bolton, allowing Coventry to play more advanced. Up top I can see Corbeanu forcing their WB to be more defensive. This is harsh on Troy but necessary I feel. Troy has been so unselfish for the team, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed amongst the fanbase. I predict a 2-1 home win. Eisa and Corbeanu with the goals. This won’t be easy; the home stretch never is.
COYD.
